Latch



Jul 29, 1930.

G. E. ROEDDING LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1929 VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR 52/2 2222 Z/Famai a My ATTORN Y5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rromzys.

July 29, 1930. G. E. ROEDDING LATCH.

Filed April 13, 1929 III bmbzz ww Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTS OFFICE GORDON E. RQEDDING, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GRAND,RAP IDS BRASS COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN LATCH Application filed April 13,1929. Serial No. 354,759.

r The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an automatically engaging reversiblelatch which is easy to operate and at thesame time automatically engages the strike or keeper with considerable power.

Second, to provide alatch having these advantages having relatively few and simple parts.

Third,'to provide a latch in which parts are .mounted on the base plate PI'OViClIDg convenand also permittingthehousient assembly ing to. be made of light material.

I Fourth, to provide a latch in which the parts'are very compactly arranged.

Objects pertaining to details'and economiesof my invention will definltely appear from the description to follow. The lnvention is defined in the claims. 7

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is afragmentary elevational view of a refrigerator door and easing with my improved latch and the coacting keeper mounted thereon, the housing of the latch being sectioned on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view corresponding to that of Flg. 1 with the latch in retracted position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a'fragmentary view on line l of Fig. 1. 1 E 1 r Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking from the left of Fig. 1 illustrating the relation of the bolt to the keeper.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View. of the base plate. r

Fig. tuating lever.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a refrigerator housing and 2 the door thereof. My improved latch comprises a base late 3 which constitutes the'main support $01 the operating parts. The bolt 4: is mounted on the pivot 5 for swinging and tilting movement, the pivot opening 6 of the bolt being of such size as to permit this tilting movement. The pivot is riveted or upset in a hole 7 in the base plate.

7 is a perspective view of the bolt ac- At each side of this pivotand uniformly spaced relative thereto I provide fulcrum members 8. .Thesefulcrum members in the embod ment illustrated are 'V-shaped and struck up'from the plate. The plate is also 7 provided with slot-like detent or keeper openings 9 disposed in spaced relation relative to the longitudinal center ofthe plate.

The bolt actuating lever 10 is provided with oppositely projecting arms 11 which are 5':

spring 16 isarranged withinthis slot with.

one end in engagement with'the head of the lever and with the other end in engagement with the end 17 f'ofthe slot, so that the lever isyieldingly, urged against its fulcrum me1nbers and is normally supported in engage 'ment withboth fulcrum members as shown in Fig. 1. When the lever is swung to retracted position, for lnstance, as shown in Fig. 2, it fulcrums on-pivots on'the lower *fulcrum member of'that figure. The opposit'earm of the lever swings away from itsfulcrum with its camshoulder portionin sliding engage- ,ment therewith, the shoulder dropping away quite abruptly during the latter part of the stroke so that, during this'part of the stroke, no additional pressure is applied to the spring.

The advantage is that as the lever is swung from its normal or central position tension on the spring is increased untilthebolt'approaches its fully retractedposition and the increasing of the tension ceases, so that the bolt under'the pressure on the handpiece quickly moves to its fully retracted position,

in which-position the lugs 18 on the under"v side of the bolt snap into the keepers or detent slots 9. The spring acts to tilt the bolt on its pivot at this point.

The bolt is thus retained in its retracted position until manually released or until in swinging the door to closed position the bolt is engaged by the tappet19 disposed above the keeper 20. This tappet disengages the bolt and allows it to swing into engagement with the strike or keeper 20 under the action of the spring actuated lever.

The housing 21 is adapted to engage the base plate and the operating parts are mounted thereon. To retain the housing in as sembled relation to the base plate and support the upper end of-the pivot 5, the pivot is preferably provided with a head 26 and is arranged through the support 22 'struck inwardly from thehousing in forming the bolt opening 23. The opposite wall of the housing is provided with an opening to permit of the swinging of the lever therein.

My improved latch is very simple and economical in structure; the parts are easily assembled, and are compactly arranged. The parts being assembled on the base plate, the housing is relieved of substantially all strain, so it may be made of relatively light gage brass or other suitable material.

I- have illustrated my improvements as I have embodied them in a refrigerator latch. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed thatthis disclosure will enable those a bolt mounted between said fulcrum members for swinging movement, a lever slidably engaging said bolt and provided with oppositely disposed shouldered arms pivotally and slidably engaging said fulcrum members, the shoulder portions of the lever lying between the fulcrum members when the lever is in central position, and a spring acting to urge said lever against said fulcrum members. 1

4. In a latch, the combination with a support provided with spaced fulcrum members and with spaced keepers, a bolt mountedgbetween said fulcrum members for pivotal and tilting movement and engageable with said keeperswhen the bolt isin' its retracted positions, a lever operatively associated with said bolt and provided with oppositely disposed arms engaging said fulcrum members, and a spring acting to urge said leveragainst both of said fulcrum members. 7

5. In a latch, the combination with a support provided with spaced fulcrum members, a bolt pivotally mounted between said fulcrum members, a lever operatively connected to said bolt and provided with oppositely disposed arms pivotally and slidably engaging said fulcrum members, and a spring acting to urge said lever against both of said fulcrum members.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 1

GORDON E. ROEDDING.

skilled in the art to embody or adapt 'my improvements as may be desired. a

Having thus described my invention what I V I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r V e 1. In a latch, the combination with a base plate having spaced fulcrum members struck up therefrom, apivot onsaid plate disposed centrally relative to said fulcrum members, a bolt mounted on said pivot, a lever provided with a laterally projecting head slidably engaging said bolt and with oppositely projecting arms engaging said fulcrum.

members, a spring acting to urge said lever e against said fulcrum members, and a housing for the base plate and the parts mounted thereon having openings in opposite walls through which said bolt projects.

2. In a latch, the combination with a base plate having spacedfulcrum members, abolt mounted between said fulcrummembersfor swinging movement, a lever slidably engaging said bolt and provided with oppositely projecting arms engaging said fulcrum members, a spring acting to urge said lever against its said fulcrum members, and a housing for the base plate and the parts mounted thereon having openings in opposite walls through which said'bolt projects.

3. In a lat-cluthe'combination with a support provided with spaced fulcrum members, 

